Nurses at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) are set to commence a strike on Monday, August 3, 2026, as efforts to settle their disputes have stalled, according to the Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUNM).

The union confirmed that the strike notice remains active and instructed all KNH nurses to halt work starting at 12:01 a.m. on the strike day.

Failed Negotiations

Multiple meetings took place since Thursday, July 30, involving KNH management, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), and KNUNM representatives. The initial meeting, held at the NSSF building under a conciliator's supervision, ended with SRC promising to consult its commissioners before providing feedback.

Later that day, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale met with KNUNM General Secretary Seth Panyako, resulting in directives for SRC to resolve the KNH issues. Another conciliation session on July 31 saw SRC request additional time for government consultations, while KNH management asked the union to suspend the strike for 14 days to allow the process to continue. KNUNM declined this request.

The union also noted that KNH reportedly sought a court injunction to prevent the strike, though KNUNM has not been formally served with any legal documents.

Strike Impact and Next Steps

  • The strike is part of broader labor disputes affecting nurses and midwives in public health facilities nationwide.
  • Key issues include delayed implementation of agreements, career progression challenges, employment terms, and finalizing the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
  • KNH has urged nurses to attend a meeting with the hospital CEO ahead of the strike deadline to avert service disruptions.
  • Should the strike proceed, critical services such as emergency care, maternity, outpatient clinics, and specialized treatments at Kenya’s largest referral hospital may be disrupted.

A further conciliation meeting involving KNH, KNUNM, and SRC is scheduled for Monday, August 3, but the union has emphasized that industrial action will commence unless their concerns are addressed.